U.S. News and World Report ranks Sparta Elementary School among the top 30 percent of schools in Missouri, according to a report published on Oct. 20.
Test scores and performance by students from certain demographics were key parts of Sparta's ranking in the comparison of public elementary schools across the state.
""Sparta Schools is very proud to have our elementary school recognized for academic excellence. The staff has worked very hard to put systems in place to help our younger students succeed," Sparta Superintendent Landon Gray said. "We strive to provide additional academic supports for students not on grade level to ensure students are provided needed assistance to accelerate learning."
On a scale of 1-100, Sparta achieved a score of 93.82, and ranked No. 63 in Missouri.
Of Christian County's elementary schools outside of Ozark, Sparta ranked the highest among 1,037 school districts that U.S. News and World Report rated. North Elementary in Ozark had the highest ranking in Christian County at 49, followed by East Elementary at 59.
The student population of Sparta Elementary is 239 and the school serves K-4. At Sparta Elementary, 72 percent of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 67 percent scored at or above that level for reading.
The student-teacher ratio at Sparta Elementary is 11:1, with 22 equivalent full-time teachers and one school counselor. More than 75 percent of those teachers have at least three years of professional experience working in classrooms.
"The elementary staff is glad to see their hard work is making a positive impact on our students. I believe this recognition shows that Sparta Elementary is a great school that puts students first in all we do," Gray said.
In Ozark, North Elementary has 647 students in grades K-5. North had a 70-percent math proficiency and a 72-percent reading proficiency in the breakdown provided.
There are 44 teachers and a counselor at North Elementary, which makes for a 44:1 teacher-to-student ratio, which is one of the factors in the rankings by U.S. News and World Report.
You can view the rankings and search by school district by visiting http://www.usnews.com/education/k12/elementary-schools/missouri.
U.S. News and World Report Best Elementary Schools
Christian County schools in the top 10 percent:
49. North Elementary, Ozark
59. East Elementary, Ozark
63. Sparta Elementary
71. West Elementary, Ozark
73. Espy Elementary, Nixa
87. South Elementary, Ozark
101. Mathews Elementary, Nixa
Schools are ranked out of 1,037 public elementary schools in Missouri.
